Helmet having resilient bending means in the lower rear portion of the shell thereof

ABSTRACT

A protective helmet (1) including a main outer shell (2) consisting of a wall (5) with a front facial opening (3). The lower rear portion (8) of the wall (5) includes resilient bending means (13, 14a, 14b, 14&#39;a, 14&#39;b).

The present invention is related to an improvement to a helmet, and morespecifically a helmet whose outer shell includes resilient bending meansin its lower rear portion. The helmet is more especially adapted to beworn by aircraft and helicopter pilots, but non exclusively, since theinvention can be used for any type of helmet.

Protective helmets are already known which are used in various fieldsand are worn by diverse users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists, firemen,skiers and others, such as aircraft and helicopter pilots. All of thecurrent helmets, irrespective of their use, include a generallysphere-shaped rigid outer shell including a facial opening, and whosecavity thus formed includes protective and comfort padding elementsadapted to nest the user's head.

For each type of utilization, manufacturers have attempted to designhelmets having a specific configuration. But although many improvementshave thus; been envisioned, developed and implemented, all has not beenaccomplished. Indeed, the general comfort of the current helmets isfairly satisfactory as a whole, but it must be noted that the comfort ofthe helmet at the level of the user's nape leaves a lot to be desired,in spite of the presence in most current helmets of padding made offlexible material, or of a strip arranged within the rear portion of theshell, fairly complex and costly adjusting means then being provided sothat the padding or the strap can be adapted to the size and shape ofthe user's nape.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of thecurrent devices and systems for the holding and comfort of the nape andproposes a new helmet in which the rear portion of the shell includesparticularly simple resilient adaptation means. The adaptation to theuser's nape occurs automatically, thereby providing, it with a comfortwhich had not been achieved to date.

Thus, the protective helmet according to the invention is of the typeincluding a main outer shell constituted by a wall having a front facialopening, and is characterized in that the lower rear portion of the wallincludes resilient bending means, the main outer shell being made of adeformable material.

According to complementary characteristics, the wall of the outer shellis made of plastic, or of a composite material of the type constituted,for example, by at least one layer of glass fibers and/or carbon fibersand/or aramid fibers or the like, impregnated with a thermoplastic orthermohardening resin.

The main outer shell of the helmet of the invention includes a pluralityof wall portions, namely, an upper front wall portion extendedrearwardly by an upper rear wall portion, which is itself extendeddownwardly by a lower rear wall portion limited downwardly by a loweredge, said lower rear wall portion including at least one notch openingwhich advantageously opens downwardly on the lower edge.

According to various embodiments, the lower rear wall portion includestwo, three, four, or more slit-shaped lateral cutouts.

In a preferred arrangement, the protective helmet includes a napecushion that is partially retained in the shell by the cutouts of thewall.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the description that follows, with reference to theannexed drawings which are only provided by way of non-limitingexamples.

FIG. 1 is an external lateral view of a helmet according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the helmet;

FIG. 3 is a rear view more particularly showing the invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view along IV--IV of FIG. 3, but ona larger scale, showing how the fastening of the nape cushion is carriedout;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view along V--V of FIG. 3,illustrating how the finish of the lower edge of the helmet is obtained;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show the shell alone, in a front view (FIG. 6) and in arear view (FIG. 7);

FIG. 8 is a perspective rear view, whereas FIG. 9 shows the nape cushionwith its fastening means in the same conditions;

FIGS. 10-18 are rear views similar to FIG. 7 schematically showing, onanother scale, nine possible alternative embodiments provided by way ofexamples.

FIGS. 19a, 19b, are views similar to FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating analternative embodiment.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are partial schematic views showing how the nape cushioncould also be held.

Let's note that to simplify the drawings, the chin strap of the helmetprovided by way of example, which is in fact well known in itself andcan be of any type, has voluntarily not been shown.

The protective helmet shown by way of example in FIGS. 1-9, generallydesignated by the reference (1) is especially a helmet for an aircraftpilot, which has a longitudinal general plane of symmetry (P) whichincludes, in a known manner, a main outer shell (2) having a frontfacial opening (3) with an internal padding commonly referred to as theupper part (4).

The main outer shell (2) is constituted by a substantially sphericalwall (5) with a generally vertical plane of symmetry (P) that isadvantageously made of a composite material including a stacking oflayers of reinforcing fibers impregnated and connected to one another bya resin matrix. The fibers can be glass, aramid, Nylon, polyethylene orcarbon fibers, while the matrix can be a thermohardenable orthermoplastic type of resin.

The main outer shell (2) includes a plurality of wall portions, namely,an upper front wall portion (6) extended rearwardly by an upper rearwall portion (7), which is itself extended downwardly by a lower rearwall portion (8), and further includes two lateral wall portions (9a,9b). The upper front wall portion (6) corresponds to the zone occupiedby the forehead of the user and is limited by the upper edge (10) of thefacial opening (3) which, in turn, is limited laterally by two lateraledges (11a, 11b). The upper rear wall portion (7) corresponds to thezone occupied by the skull of the user, whereas the lower rear wallportion (8) corresponds to the zone occupied by the nape of the user. Inaddition, the wall (5) of the upper part is limited downwardly by alower edge (12) extending in a general plane (Q) inclined with respectto the horizontal plane (H) to extend toward the rear (AR) and towardthe top (HA). The lateral wall portions (9a, 9b) correspond to the zonesoccupied by the ears of the user and are limited forwardly by thecorresponding lateral edge (11a, 11b) of the facial opening (3) anddownwardly by the front ends of the lower edge (12).

According to the invention, the lower rear wall portion (8) of the outershell limited downwardly by the lower edge (12) includes resilientbending means which enable an accurate adjustment and a wearing comfortfor the helmet in the zone of the user's nape.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, and provided by way ofexample, the lower rear portion of the shell thus includes openings orcutouts (13, 14a, 14b) which advantageously open toward the bottom (BA)on the lower edge (12). According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1-9, three openings or cutouts (13, 14a, 14b) are provided which havethe form of open slits on the lower edge to create two deformabletongues (15a, 15b) and two deformable lateral wall pieces (16a, 16b).The lower edge (12) therefore includes thee longitudinal notches (13,14a, 14b), one central cutout (13) and two lateral cutouts (14a, 14b),providing flexibility to the wall of the helmet in the area where theopenings are located, i.e., at the rear lower wall (8). Let's note thatthe axes of general symmetry (X1-X'1, X2-X'2, X3-X'3) of the three slits(13, 14a, 14b) extend toward the top (HA) and advantageouslyperpendicularly to the lower edge (12) along a length (L).

According to a particular arrangement, the helmet includes a peripheralnape cushion (17) arranged within the shell at the level of the loweredge (12). This nape cushion (17) is constituted by a foam padding (18)wrapped in a fabric covering (19). According to a preferredconstruction, the nape cushion (17) is held in the shell, at leastpartially, by the bending notches (13, 14a, 14b). To this end,projections (20, 20a, 20b) affixed to the nape cushion (17) are providedand are adapted to cooperate with the corresponding notches (13, 14a,14b) to be held therein. Thus, the nape cushion (17) is, for example,extended upwardly by a flexible retaining wall (21) on which the threefastening projections (20, 20A, 20b) are fixed, each including acylindrical portion (200) whose end includes a retaining flange (201),as can be seen more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 9.

Let's note also that the central portion (170) of the nape cushion (17)is advantageously extended laterally toward the front by lateralextensions (171, 172) that are fixed within the shell in order to beattached to the inner surface located at the level of the lower edge(12) and to the lateral edges (11a, 11b) of the facial opening. Thefixing of the lateral extensions (171, 172) can be carried out by anymeans, such as gluing, fastening by self-gripping band, clipping or thelike.

To provide the helmet with a better appearance and overall Finish, afinishing portion(22) visible more particularly in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5,is provided. Said finishing portion (22) is U-shaped and made of aflexible plastic material and is nested on the lower edge (12), whileensuring continuity with the edge of the three slits (13, 14a, 14b).

Furthermore, the inner lining of the shell (2) is constituted by anupper part (4), for example, made of a rigid foam covered with a layerof comfort flexible foam and of a fabric which ensures the internaldecoration of the helmet. Let's note also the rear portion of the upperpart is extended by a rear comfort band (26) made of a flexible foam andunder which the retaining wall (21) of the nape cushion is engaged, asappears more particularly in FIG. 4.

According to the embodiment shown by way of example, the cutouts (13,14a, 14b) made in the wall (5) of the lower rear portion (8) of theshell (2) are three in number and have the same length and the samewidth, but, of course, it could be otherwise and, for example, therecould be only one slit (13) as is illustrated in Figure (10), or twocutouts (14a, 14b), as illustrated in FIG. 11. Of course, there could bemore than three cutouts, according to the embodiment of FIG. 12 wherefour cutouts (14a, 14'a, 14b, 14'b)are provided.

Furthermore, in the preceding illustrations, the cutouts have the samelength "L" and the same width "I", but it could be otherwise, as isschematically shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16, which represent fourother possible variations. In the two variations of FIGS. 13 and 14, thecutouts (13, 14a, 14b) have different lengths, whereas in the variationsof FIG. 15, it is their widths that are different.

Let's note also that the cutouts (13, 14a, 14b, 14'a, 14'b) that open onthe lower edge (12) are longitudinal slits extending toward the top ofthe shell, but it could be otherwise, as is illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 17 and 18, which show two other possible embodiments.

It is understood that the helmet according to the invention can compriseone or more pivoting facial protective screens designated by thereference numeral (50), for example, as illustrated.

FIGS. 19a and 19b illustrate another alternative embodiment according towhich the retention of the nape cushion (17) is constituted byprojections (20, 20a, 20b) that are engaged in corresponding holes (200,200a, 200b) made in the wall of the helmet.

Furthermore, let's note that the finishing portion could participate inthe retention of the nape cushion (17) by actively retaining thefastening projections (2), 20a, 20b). Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 20,one can provide retaining projections (220) on the finishing portion(22) that are adapted to hold the cylindrical portion (200) of thefastening projections (20, 20a, 20b) of the nape cushion (17). FIG. 21shows a variation according to which the finishing portion includes aperipheral projection (221) adapted to retain the flange (201) of thefastening projections (20, 20a, 20b) of the nape cushion.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described andshown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technicalequivalents as well as their combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective helmet including a main outer shellformed by a wall having a front facial opening, said main outer shellincludes a plurality of wall portions, namely, an upper front wallportion extended rearwardly by an upper rear wall portion, which isitself extended downwardly by a lower rear wall portion limiteddownwardly by a lower edge, and wherein the rear lower portion of thewall, which corresponds to the zone occupied by the nape of the user,includes resilient bending means formed unitarily and in one-piece withsaid main outer shell.
 2. A protective helmet according to claim 1,wherein said bending means terminates at a position less than half theheight of the helmet.
 3. A protective helmet according to claim 2,wherein the wall of the main outer shell is made out of a deformablematerial.
 4. A protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the wallof the outer shell is made out of a plastic material.
 5. A protectivehelmet according to claim 3, wherein the wall of the outer shell is madeout of a composite material.
 6. A protective helmet according to claim5, wherein the composite material is formed of at least one layer of atleast one of glass fibers, carbon fibers and aramid fibers impregnatedwith one of a thermoplastic and a thermohardening resin.
 7. A protectivehelmet according to claim 1, wherein said resilient bending means insaid lower rear wall portion includes at least one cutout.
 8. Aprotective helmet according to claim 7, wherein the cutout opensdownwardly on the lower edge.
 9. A protective helmet according to claim8, wherein the lower rear wall portion includes two lateral cutouts. 10.A protective helmet according to claim 8, wherein the lower rear wallportion includes three openings or cutouts having the form of open slitson the lower edge, namely, one central cutout and two lateral cutoutswhich thus form two deformable tongues and two deformable lateral wallpieces.
 11. A protective helmet according to claim 9, wherein the threecutouts have the same length.
 12. A protective helmet according to claim10, wherein the central cutout has a different length than the lateralcutouts.
 13. A protective helmet according to claim 11, wherein thethree cutouts have the same width.
 14. A protective helmet according toclaim 11, wherein the central cutout has a different width than thelateral cutouts.
 15. A protective helmet according to claim 1, whereinsaid resilient bending means comprises at least one cutout in the rearlower portion to define at least two deformable portions, said at leastone cutout extending to a position less than half the height of thehelmet; anda nape cushion removably attached to the helmet in the areaof the at least one cutout.
 16. A protective helmet according to claim15, wherein said nape cushion extends across the at least one cutout tocover and protect the rear lower portion.
 17. A protective helmet of thetype including a main outer shell formed by wall having a front facialopening, wherein the rear lower portion of the wall, which correspondsto the zone occupied by the nape of the user, includes resilient bendingmeans, and wherein said bending means includes at least one cutout andsaid helmet further includes a nape cushion partially held in the shellby said at least one cutout of the wall.
 18. A protective helmetaccording to claim 17, wherein at least one projection affixed to thenape cushion is provided and is adapted to cooperate with at least oneof the corresponding cutouts to be held therein.
 19. A protective helmetof the type including a main outer shell formed by a wall having a frontfacial opening, wherein the rear lower portion of the wall, whichcorresponds to the zone occupied by the nape of the user, includes aresilient bending portion formed unitarily and in one-piece with saidmain outer shell.
 20. A protective helmet according to claim 19, whereinsaid resilient bending portion comprises at least one cutout in the rearlower portion to define at least two deformable portions, said at leastone cutout extending to a position less than half the height of thehelmet; anda nape cushion removably attached to the helmet in the areaof the at least one cutout.
 21. A protective helmet according to claim20, wherein said nape cushion extends across the at least one cutout tocover and protect the rear lower portion.
 22. A protective helmetaccording to claim 18, wherein said bending portion terminates at aposition less than half the height of the helmet.